Last night at the Pequeno Potala, I talked with Veronika and Johannes before supper. They were students together, studying theology. They belong to a Swiss based, free church. Service in the community is part of their work. We got into the question of religions and where they go wrong. Neither were convinced by the Catholic or Protestant mainstream. They do hold a key place for Jesus though. I'm picking up pieces of information and conjecture suggesting the Jesus story has been doctored by power players. That he was married to Mary Magdalene, never crucified, perhaps a prophet, like many others. Visiting from the ascended masters' realm, with the same message in a contemporary context. I consider raising the questions with Veronika and Johannes, then see that it is not going to help. They are fixed in their belief, like Reiner.
At dinner, Jose-Antonio, retired Spanish Air Force Colonel, tells a story from the Peninsular War of 1812. The British troops discovered Bierzo wine. The planned battle with the Spanish had to be postponed for two days, while they sobered up. Which shows something interesting about warfare, codes of honour.
His attention turns to World War 2. The head of German special operations was labelled the most dangerous man in Europe. He was captured by the Americans, who didn't know what to do with him. The British head of special operations, who was on good terms with the German, advised him to escape, which he did.
We drink a toast with our Bierzo wine, two Spaniards, two Germans and a Brit: No more wars.
And the philosophy I already mentioned. Luis and Carlos, holding no particular religious views, just taking care of the pilgrims. A beautiful dinner, a warning to stay quiet until 7am, and on the dot of 7, Ave Maria blasts out of the speakers, followed by Abba's I Believe in Angels, then Always Look on the Bright Side from Monty Python's Life of Brian; the sacred, saccharine and sacriligious working in harmony.
Then the best breakfast I've had in Spain, to send us on our way.
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